Hugging trees has a calming effect on me. I'm talking about enormous trees that will be there when we are all dead and gone. I've hugged trees in every part of this little island. Show less «

[on imprisoned Kurdish labor leader Abdullah Ocalan] Persuading enemies that there are alternative ways to resolve long-standing differences takes patience and a willingness to engage in dialogue, but most important it requires leadership. Ocalan has demonstrated that leadership. Despite incarceration he has forged a roadmap to peace that commits the Kurdish people to democracy and freedom and tolerance. I commend him for his leadership and vision and urge the Turkish government to release him. Show less «